big stick

NOUN

finesse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acumen competence guile quickness savvy skill sophistication subtlety tact

STRONG

adeptness adroitness artfulness artifice bluff cleverness con craft craftiness cunning delicacy diplomacy discernment discretion feint gimmick polish racket ruse savoir-faire stratagem trick wile

WEAK

grift runaround

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance inability incapability ineptness

STRONG

frankness honesty openness stupidity truthfulness

NOUN

heavy hand

Synonyms

WEAK

firm hand iron boot iron hand strong hand tight rein tight ship

NOUN

iron hand

Synonyms

WEAK

control firm hand grip heavy hand high hand iron boot iron fist iron rule jackboot mailed fist strong hand tight grasp tight hand tight rein tight ship

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"There has to be a big stick and a big carrot here," he argues.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“We don’t go in with the big stick to begin with,” Morling said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

Despite the big stick, keeping the quiet has never been easy.

From Salon • Oct. 9, 2021

“Pound around making a bunch of noise, swinging a big stick in every direction” — not so much.

From Washington Post • Sep. 17, 2021

I threw him a big stick, which he used to pull the bookcase closer.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney